Four people were detained in Edirne province while they were allegedly on their way to escape to Greece, on Sunday.

Gendarmerie rounded up a former National Police Department employee, U.G.Y.’s wife G.Y.; his son T.O.Y.; and daughter M.Y. along with F.Ş. near Karayusuflu village. Dismissed from his job in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt, U.G.Y. is reported to have already exited Turkey, fearing further government persecution.

Meanwhile, state-run Anadolu Agency said F.Ş. is the 17-year-old son of N.Ş. and İ.Ş. a couple Turkish police has yet to locate as part of an investigation into the Gülen movement.

Thousands of people have fled Turkey due to a massive witch-hunt launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against sympathizers of the Gülen movement since a failed coup attempt on July 15. The government accuses the movement of masterminding the coup.

About 130,000 people have been purged from state bodies, 92,000 detained and 45,000 arrested since the coup attempt. Arrestees include journalists, judges, prosecutors, police and military officers, academics, governors and a comedian.

Several tips earlier submitted to Turkey Purge confirm that both private sector and public institution deny jobs to the people dismissed after July 15, fearing government pressure. (turkeypurge.com) Feb. 20, 2017